Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] suggesting he (WSC) see Maurice Hankey to agree on what should be published on the Dardanelles and Gallipoli operations. WSC has no personal objection to the publication of the War Council minutes and wishes to see each of its decisions concerning the Dardanelles shortly stated. Regrets the result of [the Battle of Jutland] and attributes it to the failure to execute punctually the destroyer and battlecruiser construction programme. Draft in WSC's hand.

Letter from Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence (2 Whitehall Gardens), to the Admiralty, the War Office, the Foreign Office, Herbert Creedy and James Masterton-Smith requesting that papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition be assembled for publication and promising to forward to the War Office and the Foreign Office copies of the papers selected by WSC. Typescript copy. Some text torn away. Sent with CHAR 2/74/5.

Letter from Major Lancelot Storr, assistant secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence (2 Whitehall Gardens) to WSC (Blenheim Palace) enclosing a letter from Sir Maurice Hankey about the collection for publication of papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition [see CHAR 2/74/4]. Signed typescript.

Letter from Sir Maurice Hankey (Committee of Imperial Defence, 2 Whitehall Gardens) to WSC (Blenheim Palace) explaining that he will have printed WSC's papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition together with those from the War Office and the Admiralty. Signed typescript.

Letter from WSC (Blenheim Palace) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] stating that the minutes of War Council meetings on the Dardanelles Expedition should be published, complaining about being unjustly criticised and arguing that it is as much in Asquith's interest as in his that it should be shown that the expedition was "soberly &carefully entered upon". Draft in WSC's hand.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] on the War Council minutes showing the strong support given by Asquith, Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] Lord Kitchener and Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] for WSC' s Admiralty plans for the Dardanelles Expedition, and WSC's disclaimer of responsibility "if a military disaster occurred through adequate troops not being sent in time to deal with the situation that might arise during the naval operations, or as their consequence." Draft in WSC's hand.

Letter from Edward Marsh (10 Downing Street) to WSC reporting that James Masterton Smith has made it clear that the Admiralty do not wish to prevent the publication of papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition and the delay is simply due to the number of documents involved.

Letter from Sir Maurice Hankey (Committee of Imperial Defence, 2 Whitehall Gardens) to WSC (41 Cromwell Road) reporting that the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] does not believe that the minutes of the War Council meetings relating to the Dardanelles Expedition should be published because it would set a bad precedent. Signed typescript.

Printed note by WSC referring to his Cabinet memorandum on the Dardanelles campaign written in July [see CHAR 2/74/13] and complaining about the delay in fighting the battle in Gallipoli and the decline in British manpower resulting from the Government's failure to introduce conscription. Another copy at CHAR 2/74/133.

Cabinet memorandum by WSC (written in July and printed in October) detailing the missed military and diplomatic opportunities in Gallipoli and elsewhere in South-East Europe and arguing that a third British army should be sent to Turkey and that agreement be reached with Bulgaria to bring her onto the Allied side in order to stop Germany breaking through to Turkey and beyond. Another copy (reprinted Feb 1917) at CHAR 2/74/128.

Letter from WSC to David Lloyd George expressing the wish to discuss with Major-General Charles Callwell which parts of the documents relating to the Dardanelles and Gallipoli selected by WSC for publication should be omitted or suppressed. Typescript copy.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] asking for an assurance that the papers relating to the Dardanelles and Gallipoli will be published while Parliament is sitting. Typescript copy.

Letter from Major-General Charles Callwell to General Sir Ian Hamilton arguing that correspondence and telegrams relating to operations in the Dardanelles after Hamilton's successful landings cannot be published at present because they show the late Lord Kitchener in a bad light. Asserts that it should be made clear in the papers laid before Parliament that Hamilton's initial orders were based on the erroneous assumption that the Turks would not put up much resistance to the forcing of the straits. Callwell remembers telling Lord Kitchener and Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] that the straits would not be forced unless Bulgaria and Greece joined on the Allied side. Mentions that he has turned down a post in charge of semi-official communiques on the Western Front and mentions the latest Allied offensive there. Typescript copy.

Letter from Major-General Charles Callwell to Sir Reginald Brade arguing that the papers on the Dardanelles Expedition to be presented to Parliament should deal only with the period from the preliminary examination of the subject up to General Sir Ian Hamilton's landings on the Gallipoli peninsula, since consideration of the subsequent failure of the campaign would reveal the manpower shortages arising from the failure of Lord Kitchener to recruit enough men without resort to conscription and the dilatoriness of the Cabinet. Asserts that Lord Kitchener did not approve of the naval attack on the Dardanelles but also did not expect the Turks to resist as much as they did. Gives detailed notes on the papers proposed to be presented to Parliament. Annotated typescript copy. Sent with CHAR 2/74/17-19.

Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton (1 Hyde Park Gardens, [London]) to WSC explaining the rise in the number and morale of Turkish troops in Gallipoli between the battles on 12 July and 6 August 1915, and the need to stress the fact that the operations at Suvla Bay were in support of the main thrust at Anzac Cove.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] protesting against the Government's decision not to lay before Parliament papers relating to the operations in the Dardanelles and Gallipoli. Typescript copy.

Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton (Deanston House, Perthshire, [Scotland]) to WSC enclosing a copy of a telegram from him to Rear Admiral John de Robeck [see CHAR 2/74/2] to show that he did not influence de Robeck in his abandonment of purely naval attacks at the Dardanelles. Signed typescript.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to David Lloyd George arguing that the Government should honour its pledge to lay before Parliament papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition and that the setting up of a secret House of Commons committee of inquiry is not a substitute for this. Incomplete draft in WSC's hand. Second and third sheets filed in wrong order.

Letter from Sir William Graham Greene (Admiralty) to WSC sending copies of two minutes [of War Council meetings on the Dardanelles Expedition] and explaining that it is proposed to add to the printed documents two memoranda by Sir Henry Jackson of January 1915, the previous telegraphic communications with Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden, and the report of the bombardment of the forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles. Signed typescript.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to "Fred" [Sir F E Smith, later 1st Lord Birkenhead] enclosing printed papers relating to the Dardanelles [see CHAR 2/74/49-64] and asking for advice on how best to present his case. Refers to the German capture of Turtukay (Romania). Typescript copy.

"Committee of Imperial Defence. The War. Suggestions as to the military position. Memorandum by the Right Hon D[avid] Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer." Written 1 Jan 1915. Printed 4 Sep 1916. Sent with CHAR 2/74/47-48.

Draft of an Admiralty note by WSC to the French government on the respective roles of British and French naval forces in the forthcoming attack on the Dardanelles forts and the seizure of Alexandretta (16 January). With related notes from James Masterton Smith to Lord Kitchener (16 January), and between WSC and Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] (16 January). Grey believes the operation should be justified to Russia as a diversion to prevent Turkish pressure in the Caucasus. Annotated printed copy.

Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to Lord Kitchener arguing that only those battleships needed for the initial stage of the Dardanelles bombardment should be used at the outset and that the seizure of Alexandretta should be attempted at the same time as the bombardment so that it can be represented as the main operation if the attack on the Dardanelles is checked. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/9,.

Details of the concentration of the fleet for the attack on the Dardanelles, by Vice-Admiral Henry Oliver. Sent by WSC to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], Lord Kitchener and Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon]. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/10.

Memorandum by WSC to Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] and Lord Kitchener on the terms of naval co-operation with France in the eastern Mediterranean. With note by Grey that French should be allowed to have what they want in this sphere, even a share in the occupation of Alexandretta. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/11.

Memorandum by the Chief of the Admiralty War Staff [Vice-Admiral Henry Oliver] on plans for the bombardment of the Dardanelles forts (2 February). Sent with covering note by WSC to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon], Lord Kitchener and Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour]. With note by Grey that the forcing of the straits will discourage the planned Austro-German offensive against Serbia (2 February), and note of agreement by Lord Kitchener (3 February). Printed. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/12.

Letter in French from Victor Augagneur [French Minister of Marine] (Paris) to [WSC] indicating agreement with British proposals for Anglo-French naval co-operation in the eastern Mediterranean with reference to the attacks on the Dardanelles and Alexandretta (31 Jan). With notes that Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] and Lord Kitchener have seen the letter and that WSC thinks it is satisfactory (3 February). Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/13.

"Appreciation" by WSC arguing that the Anglo-French position on the Western Front is secure and that the Allies have the resources to take Constantinople by the end of March and thus eliminate Turkey as a military factor. Printed copy. Submitted to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], [David Lloyd George] and Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] and used by WSC as a brief to argue in the War Council of 26 February. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/16.

Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener on the preparation of transports to the Dardanelles for the 29th Division and the need for the French Division to come to Lemnos in view of the absence of British regulars. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/17.

Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener suggesting that 20 March be fixed on as the date for the landing of troops after the initial naval operations at the Dardanelles and approving the appointment of General Sir Ian Hamilton to the command of the military operations. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/18.

Memorandum by WSC that Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden will be in charge of the Dardanelles operations until troops land and that French and Russian troops will be under the overall command of General Sir Ian Hamilton. With note from Commodore Charles de Bartolome to the First Sea Lord [Lord Fisher, earlier Sir John Fisher] explaining that the memorandum is the result of a discussion between WSC and Lord Kitchener and asking for Fisher's concurrence, which he gives. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/20.

Note from C C Ennals quoting from a telegram from the Chief of Staff of Grand Duke Nicholas giving the instructions which have been issued to Admiral Andrei Eberhardt [Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet]. With notes on the circulation and translation of the document (13-14 March) and note by WSC that it should be telegraphed textually to Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden (13 March). Printed copy. French with parallel English translation. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/19.

Letter in French from Victor Augagneur, French Minister of Marine, to WSC agreeing with the plans for the Dardanelles operations set out in a recent memorandum from WSC and giving details of the relevant French naval dispositions. With notes that the letter was seen by [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith], Sir Edward Grey [later Lord Grey of Fallodon] and Lord Kitchener, and that it is satisfactory to WSC. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/14.

Letter from Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Wilson (Admiralty) to Herbert Asquith [later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] stating that he is not prepared to become First Sea Lord under any First Lord of the Admiralty other than WSC. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/23.

Letter from Major-General Charles Callwell (Canada House, Kingsway, [London]) to WSC stating that he is looking for WSC's letter of 26 June about Germany and Serbia and explaining why he did not believe that papers relating to the Dardanelles Expedition should be laid before Parliament, which probably influenced the decision of Herbert Asquith [later Lord Oxford and Asquith] to withhold them. Offers to discuss with WSC the papers to be produced for the Commission of Inquiry. Signed typescript.

Letter from Lord Cromer (36 Wimpole Street, [London]) to WSC reporting that the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry have examined Sir Charles Monro and Sir Maurice Hankey and that Hankey's evidence and Admiralty telegrams selected by Sir William Pickford [later Lord Sterndale] are being printed. Asks WSC to send copies of his documents to the secretary of the Commission as soon as possible. Signed typescript.

Letter from J L Garvin (9 Greville Place, [London]) to WSC on the amendments made by [Lord Fisher, earlier Sir John Fisher] to the evidence he proposes to present to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry and Fisher's continued belief that it is still possible to carry out a naval action in the Baltic and an attack on the Dardanelles as outlined by Fisher in his letter to WSC of 3 January 1915.

Letter from Lord Fisher [earlier Sir John Fisher] to Herbert Asquith [later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] describing certain incidents not recorded in writing which should feature in the published papers about the Dardanelles and Gallipoli operations, mentioning documents which should be included and suggesting that only a precis of his memorandum on general naval policy of January 1915 should be published. Typescript copy.

Letter from Sir Alfred Yarrow to Lord Fisher [earlier Sir John Fisher] enclosing an estimate of the German capacity for building submarines [see CHAR 2/74/89] and suggesting that the Germans are devoting all their ship-building resources to this. Typescript copy.

Letter from WSC (41 Cromwell Road) to Lord Cromer asking for his evidence to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry to be amended to make it clear that he favoured the military attack after the naval operation was abandoned and that the matter was discussed in Cabinet. Copy in WSC' s hand.

Letter from WSC to Lord Cromer correcting the impression given by part of his statement to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry that the Cabinet did not discuss, and were not kept informed about, the military attack. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/6.

Letter from [WSC] to Lord Cromer referring to an article in the Daily Mail as an example of the kind of attack against which he is unable properly to defend himself because of the procedure for examining witnesses adopted by the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry. Typescript copy.

Letter from [WSC] (41 Cromwell Road) to Edward Grimwood Mears giving the reasons why he wishes to examine certain witnesses before the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry and asserting that he has enough evidence to prove: that at no time during the operation was the margin of safety of the Grand Fleet compromised; that the Admiralty had sufficient ammunition reserves; that the battleships "Majestic" and "Canopus" could be spared for bombardment duties. Typescript copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/3-5.

Letter from [WSC] (41 Cromwell Road) to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] commenting on the evidence from various people to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry, copies of which he is sending to Asquith. Typescript copy.

Letter from [WSC] (41 Cromwell Road) to Edward Grimwood Mears denying Sir George Arthur's assertion that Lord Kitchener was opposed to the naval attack on the Dardanelles and complaining that the propagation of this idea by members of Kitchener's entourage has led to unjust attacks in the press on WSC. Annotated typescript copy.

Letter from Sir George Arthur (War Office) to [Edward Grimwood Mears] enclosing a statement about Lord Kitchener's attitude to the naval attack on the Dardanelles to be submitted to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry [see CHAR 2/74/109]. Typescript copy.

Statement to the Dardanelles Commission of Inquiry by Sir George Arthur that Lord Kitchener had protested against a naval attack on the Dardanelles unsupported by the army and that WSC had replied that the power of the guns of the "Queen Elizabeth" made a purely naval attack a practical proposition. Typescript copy.

Statement by [Lord Kitchener] to the War Council that he had doubted whether a purely naval attack on the Dardanelles would succeed but was led to believe it was possible by WSC's statements about the power of the 'Queen Elizabeth' and the Admiralty staff paper showing how the operations were to be conducted. He did not believe that once the army was in Gallipoli the 'Queen Elizabeth' would be withdrawn and he believes that this withdrawal will have serious consequences. Typescript copy.

Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Bridges (Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly, London) to WSC justifying the recent offensives on the Western Front and stating that tanks will have to be made faster before complete confidence can be placed in them. Thinks the idea of body shields contains "the germs of salvation".

"Remarks by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Wilson on the paper and evidence of Major-General [Thomas] Hickman". Argues against Hickman's assertion that high-angle fire rather than the use of low trajectory high velocity guns would be most suitable for the bombardment of the Dardanelles forts. Printed.

Extract from the minutes of the 96th meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence on 18 February 1907 at which it was decided that an attempt to force the Dardanelles by a landing in Gallipoli would be very risky. Reprinted for the Committee on 5 September 1916.

Letter from WSC (Duchy of Lancaster Office) to Lord Kitchener urging him to hold army divisions in reserve in Egypt to ensure that the new offensive in Gallipoli should not fail (15 June).

Letter from Lord Kitchener (War Office) to WSC reporting that no time is being lost in sending out reinforcements to the Dardanelles and noting that Greece may come into the war and that Bulgaria will probably demand territory from Turkey (16 June).

Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener urging him to have a military force near at hand should the naval attack on the Dardanelles succeed, either to seize the Gallipoli peninsula or to occupy Constantinople if a revolution takes place (18 Feb). Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener sending him a copy of his minute about transport for the Mediterranean and asking him to organise a force in Egypt of 8000 or 10000 men to be despatched quickly to the Dardanelles in an emergency (20 Feb). Printed copies.

Minute by WSC stating that the Dardanelles operations could easily develop into a great siege and calling for the following measures: the provision of siege artillery and well-equipped semi-permanent landing stages; protection against submarines; the fitting of the bombarding fleet with mine protection; the provision of seventy aircraft. Printed copy.

War Committee memorandum by WSC on the need for reinforcements to be sent if the Bulair Isthmus is to be seized (11 Jun). With covering notes to [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith and Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] showing that they, Andrew Bonar Law and Lord Curzon were to see the memorandum (11 Jun).

Telegram from the War Office to General Sir Ian Hamilton asking for his views on the practicality of seizing the Bulair Isthmus (11 Jun). Telegram from the War Office to General Sir Ian Hamilton asking him for his views on the practicality of cutting of the Turkish lines of supply via the Bulair Isthmus and from the Asiatic shore (12 Jun). Printed copies.

Letter from Major-General Charles Callwell (War Office) to WSC (21 Arlington Street) on: the need to get Bulgaria on the Allied side before Germany makes a successful attack on Serbia; the activity of Russian forces in the Caucasus and Armenia; the withdrawal of some Turkish troops from the Caucasus to Constantinople. Printed copy.

Note by [Austen Chamberlain] for the Dardanelles Committee reporting the view of the Viceroy of India [Lord Hardinge of Penshurst] that failure of the Dardanelles expedition would encourage Pan-Islamism in India and cause the Muslims there to look to Turkey. Printed copy.

Letter from WSC (72 Brook Street) to Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] asking him to have produced a report on weather conditions in the Dardanelles in October, November and December and to see Commodore Roger Backhouse about the naval guns which have not yet been landed. Expresses anxiety that the sanitary conditions should be adequate for the winter campaign. Printed copy.

Cabinet memorandum by WSC rejecting the view that the establishment by the Germans of through communications with Constantinople will immediately make the Allied army's position in Gallipoli untenable. Reprinted February 1917.

War Committee notes by WSC on: the need for the troops in Gallipoli to be supplied with new gas respirators; the justification of using gas against the Turks; the opportunity to learn from problems encountered by the French in the recruitment of native troops. Printed copy.